During the last few months Temple Beth Or has met the challenge of continuing as the vibrant and spiritual Jewish center of Snohomish County, despite the absence of permanent professional clergy. In many respects our strong committees have provided more than expected. Shabbat services have continued to be a warm and moving part of the week. Religious School classes have forged ahead with innovative teachers, a school principal guided with a new curriculum and a revived Youth Education Committee. The Youth Ed and Religious Practices Committees are working well together to be certain that those students studying for a bar or bat mitzvah are secure in their preparation to lead our worship services.
Yet with all our accomplishments, it is time for Temple Beth Or to continue on a new path. Our membership has directed Temple Beth Or leadership to move forward in securing a permanent part-time rabbi. The process of selecting a rabbi to guide us in fulfilling our spiritual needs, celebrating our life cycle events, Jewish education , and to be the Jewish voice of our greater community, is a huge task. We are very fortunate to have Temple member Carolyn Henri step forward to chair the Rabbinic Search Committee. Carolyn along with Transition Chair, Sandy Voit and Membership Committee member, Debra Henry have carefully reviewed the process of selecting a new rabbi beginning with the formation of a strong Rabbinic Search Committee. Without question, this committee will have some of the most important, time consuming and emotional decisions asked of any Temple volunteer. Yet the members of this committee will also create a unique bond and find personal fulfillment not always found in volunteer tasks.
We have developed an outline of Rabbinic Search Committee criteria and expectations (at this point, members seeking to join the Search Committee have contacted Carolyn Henri - ed). Most of us will not serve directly on this committee. Remember, however, that each of us has a job, to support this group of dedicated people. We must also continue to communicate with each other to ensure a strong community ready to greet a new rabbi. Carolyn Henri and I are available to answer questions and ensure that the valued Temple Beth Or membership is kept informed. The Transition Committee will continue their work in tandem with committees so that our clerical needs are met until we are able to fill the rabbi position.
L'Shalom Janis Warner, President February 2008
Transition Committee Updates
The Rabbinic Transition Committee is charged with developing a rabbinic plan for the coming year. This committee is committed to making the transition process as transparent as possible. We have drafted a job description and advertisement for a part-time Rabbi, and formed a Search Committee. Please contact any member of the committee (see below) with questions and/or concerns throughout this process.
Youth Education Committee Update:
The Religious School has adopted the URJ's Chai and Mitkadem Curricula.
Amy Paquette was hired as the Religious School Principal
Religious School commenced on September 9, and is now in full swing
A job description for Temple Beth Or Educator has been drafted
Religious Practices Committee Update:
A regular Shabbat service schedule has been established (Friday night services during the 1st, 2nd, and 4th weeks of each month, Saturday morning services during the 3rd week of each month)
The first Shabbat service of each month will be a special 'First Friday' Family Shabbat Service, designed to be more conducive to families
Rabbi Bill Cutter, professor at the Hebrew Union College, and cantorial soloist Rabbi Yossi Carron provided extraordinary High Holy Days leadership.
Several rabbis have been engaged for conducting services through the remainder of this calendar year
Lay service leaders and musicians have also been scheduled for those services not conducted by a rabbi
Meetings are being conducted with upcoming b'nei mitzvah students and families, in order to arrange for service leadership, outside of the regularly-scheduled services noted above
Rabbi Leah Herz has been hired to provide pastoral care and service leadership
We replaced our prayer books with the new Reform Judaism prayer book, Mishkan T'fillah.
Please send suggestions for individuals who would be qualified to participate in services to Bernie Busch
